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PENNSYLVANIA RESERVES IN THE PENINSULA. 



GENERAL MVALI7S OFFICIAL REPORTS 



■ i; I i \kl.\ Bl HIS DIVISION IN 1 III. 



BATTLES OF MECHANIOSVILLE, GAINES' MILLS, AND NEWMARKET CROSS ROADS, 



i: \\n ii 



STATEMENTS OF GENERALS MEAD AND PORTER, AND COLONELS STONE, FISHER. 
HAYS. WARNER, TAGGART, ROBERTS, BOLLINGER, AND OTHERS 



£^13 






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PENNSYLVANIA RESERVES IJS THE PEXIXSULA. 



SENEGAL M'CALL'S OFFICIAL KEPORTS 

OP in 01 THE 

BATTLES OF MECB INICSVILLE, G LINES' MILLS, AND NEW MABKET CROSS ROADS. 

TOGETHER WITH 

STATEMENTS OF GENERALS MEAL !lND PORTERj AND COLONELS STONE, FISHER, 
EATS, WARNER, TAGGART, ROBERTS, BOLLINGER, AND OTHERS. 



Having observed in the New York World, oi a re- 
cent date, an extract of so much ot General Mc- 
Clellan's report of the campaign In the Penin- 
sula of Virginia as embraces the operations of the 
Army of the Potomac during the seven days' battles 
while retiring irom the trout ot Richmond upon 
James River, we regretted to remark that disparage- 
ment w as cast on McCall's Division, the Pennsyl- 
vania Reserves, at the battle of Kelson's Farm 
(Glendale, or Xew Market Cross Roads, as it has also 
been stvlcd), lougbt on the 30th of June, 1862. The 
Pennsylvania Reserves have lought nobly eveiy- 
wheie during this war, and certainly nowhere more 
bravely than on the occasion in question, as fully 
appears from General MoCall'8 reports, and bis 
testimony before the joint Committee ot Congress on 
the Couduct of the War, supported by the subordi- 
nate reports of the officers oi his division, now be- 
come public property, and which, in vindication of 
our fellow citizens who have ireely shed their blood 
in defense of the Union, we publish herewith. 

In evidence ot the severity of the contest it is only 
necessary to say that the most desperate fighting on 
that day was between McCall's Division and A. P. 
Hill's, and the Rebel graves in front of Met all 
were ascertained to be two to one in any other part 
of the field. In this relation it may not be inappro. 
pi fate to mention that Hill's Division was directly 
opposed to McCall's at Mechanicsville, at Gaines 
Mills, and, lastly, intuis battle, and that the Richmond 
Enquirer, a lew days alter this, while commending 
their gallantry and the hard work to which they had 
been put, made this statement : — 

" Official returns show that A. P. Hill's Division 
went into the battle at Mechanicsville fourteen thou- 
sand strong, and after the battle of tho 30th of June 
were ascertained to be only eight thousand strong. 
So terrible indeed was Hill's loss that Magru- 
der, who only arrived on the ground at eleven 
o'clock that night (30th), was ordered by Lee to 
relieve Hill, in order that his men might colloct 
their wounded." 

The Reserves may well be proud of tho testimony 
of Longstreet and Pryor, as reported by Surgeon 
Marsh. 

GENERAL M'C ALL'S REPORTS. 
Head-quarters "McCall's Division," Camp near 
Harrison's Landing, Aug. 16, 1862.— Capt. F. T. Locke, 
Assistant Adjutant-General— Sir:— I have the honor to 
submit herewith reports of the operations of my division 
in the battles before Richmond, on the 26th, 27th ami ;;0ili 
June last, which have been unavoidably deferred by my 
capture at the close of the last day's battle and subse 
quest confinement in Richmond :— 



Battle of Mechanicsville, June 26. 

On the afternoon of the 19th June I received through 
you the orders of General McClellan to move forward 
with the "greater par '<" of my division to Mechanicsville 
and relieve Tatloe's Brigade (of Franklin's Corps), 
then the extreme right of the Army of the Potomac. In 
accordance with this order I advanced the First and 
Third Brigades, commanded respectively by Brigadier- 
Generals Jno. F. Reynolds and T. Seymour, to Beaver 
Dam Creek, this side of Mechanicsville, and occupied a 
strong position on its left bank, near its junction with the 
Chickahomiiiy. From this position I ordered one regi- 
ment of infantry and a battery to be thrown forward to 
the heights in front of the village to relieve Taylor, and 
a strong line of pickets to be e-tablishcd as far forward as 
Meadow Bridge. I held in reserve the Second Brigade 
(Meade's) in front of Gaines' Farm, ready to act either 
in support of the First and Third Brigades, or to oppose 
the crossing at New Bridge, should it be attempted. 

The position selected on Beaver Dam Creek was natu" 
rally a strong one, the left resting on the Chickahoininy 
and the right extending to dense woods (beyond the 
upper Mechanicsville road), which were occupied. The 
passage of the creek was difficult throughout the greater 
part of my front, and, with the exception of the roads 
crossing at Ellerson's Mill, near my left, and that near 
my right, above mentioned, impracticable for artillery. 
On the right of the last-named road an epaulment calcu- 
lated for four pieces of field artillery was thrown up, and 
rifle-pits for a regiment each were constructed in front of 
each brigade. Cooper's Battery, of six 10-pounder Par- 
rott guns, on the ligbt^of the upper road (four of tbem be- 
hind the epaulment), and Smead's (Regular) Battery of 
four 12 pounder Napoleon guns on the left of the road, 
commanded that approach. DeIIaet's (Regular) Battery 
of six 12-pounder Napoleon guns was stationed near the 
front centre, commanding a more distant view of the 
same road, and also the lower road direct to the village 
by Ellerson's Mill. Easton's and Kern's Batteries were 
with the Second Brigade in reserve. Iu this position I 
awaited any movement the enemy might initiate. Cobb's 
Legion, of the Confederate Army, was encamped within 
view, on the opposite side of the Chickahominy, and A- 
P. Hill's Division on his right, and about a quarter of a 
mdc in the rear; detachments from both of which held 
two redoubts and an extensive line of rifle-pits along the 
crest of the highlands overlooking the river. 

At about noon of the Zfith the enemy was discovered 
to be in motion, and at half-past twelve my pickets, at 
Meadow Bridge, were driven in, whereupon those along 
the road were ordered to fall back. Not long afterwards, 
when the head of his column appeared in front of Me- 
chanicsville, the infantry and artillery there were with- 
drawn. In the tncantirao Meade's Brigade had been or- 
dered forward, and directed to occupy ground in rear of 
the line, where they would be out of range of musketry 



2 



and at practicable distance for tho support of any part ot 
the field. 

My line or : attic was formed in the follow-in? order, 
trom right to left :— On the extreme right were seven 
companies of the Serond Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel 
McCandless; then six companies of the First Rifles, 
Major Stone; the Fifth Regiment, Colonel Simmons; 
the First Regiment, Colonel Roberts; the Eighth Kcgi- 
ment, Colonel Hays; the Tenth Eegiment, Colonel 
KirK ; the Ninth Regiment, Colonel Jacks >x, and the 
Twelfth Regiment, Colonel Taggaet, which occupied 
the extreme left. Meade's Brigade, in reserve, con- 
sisted of the Third Regiment, Colonel Sickle; the 
Fourth Regiment, Colonel Magilton, and the Seventh 
Regiment, Colonel Harvey/. Easton's Battery offoar 
12-pound r Na ■<•■] on guns, and Ke.^'s Battery of six 
12-pounder howitzers, wer ■ also he] 1 in r< a rve. I should 
here mention that the Sixth Regiment, Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel McKean, having been detached some days before, 
was at TunstaU's Railroad Station, while the Eleventh 
Regiment, Colonel Gallagher, was on picket on the 
Chickahominy. These two regiments were consequently 
thrown out of the engagement, except that the Eleventh 
was brought forward on the morning of the 27th, and 
was under fire (lo ing one man) fcr a short time before 
being withdrawn. The Fourth Regiment Pennsylvania 
Cavalry, Col. Child*, attached to the Pennsylvania Re- 
serves, was under arms and in readiness for any service 
that ii Ightbc required cf it, but v\as not called into action. 
At about three o'clock, P. M., the enemy's lines weie 
formed in mv front, and their skirmishers were rapidly 
advanced, delivering then fire as they came forward. 
They were speedily driven back by a discharge of artil- 
lery and a rattling reply ot musketry. At this moment I 
rode along the front of several regiments, and I remarked 
in the cheerful and animated countenances of the men 
the pi omise of that brilliant success which they so nobly 
achieved in the sequel 

In a short time the enemy, who were commanded by 
General Robert E. Lee in person, boldly advanced in 
force undercover of a heavy artillery fire, and attacked 
any position trom right to left. It was not long, however, 
before I was satisfied that his main attack was directed 
upon mv right, and in consequence I ordered Kern's 
Battery thither, and supported it by advancing from tho 
reserve the Third Reciment, Colonel Sickel. Here for 
a long time the battle raged with great fury. The 
Georgians now rushed headlong against the Second Regi- 
ment, but only to be mowed down by those gallant lel- 
lows, whose commander soon sent to the rear some seven 
or eight prisoners taken in the rencontre. 

Aftei this the enemy retired for a time from the clos 
contest on the right, but along the line ftom the right 
ccntie to the extreme left kept up a heavy general dis- 
charge of artillery and small arms, which, w ith the rapid 
reply of the Reserves, wa« at times multiplied to an un- 
broken roar ot thunder. Somewhat later in the day, a 
heavy column was launched down the road to Ellerson's 
Mill, where another most determined attack in force was 
mad°. I had already s nt Easton's Battery to General 
Seymour, commanding the le:t wing, and I now des- 
patched the Seventh Regiment, Colonel Harvey, to the 
extreme left, apprehending that the enemy might at- 
tempt to turn that flank, by crossing the creek below the 
mill. Here again the Reserves maintained their position, 
aud sus.aincd their character for steadiness in fine style 
never retiring one foot during a severe struggle with some 
of the very best troops of the enemy, fighting under the 
direction of tiieirmost distinguished General. For hour 
after hour the battle was hotly contested, and the rapid 
Are of our artillery, dealing dea h to an awful extent, was 
unlntermltted, while tho greatly superor force of the 
enemy enabled him to precipitate column after column 
of fresh truops upon my ncariy exhausted lines. 

About sunset Griffin 'a Brlga e, i f Uorreix's Divi- 
sion, arrived on the ground, together with EDWARDS' 
Battery. I requested the gallant General to move 
his brigade to the extreme right, that being the 
weakest point of my position. Some time elapsed 
before these troops readied t lie ground indicated, and 
as tho evening was now far advanced, only a portion of 



his force could be brought into action. A short time, 
however, before the close of the engagement, the Fourth 
Michigan, Colonel Woodbury, relieved tho Fifth Re- 
serves, whos^ ammunition was exhausted, and two com- 
panies of the Fourteenth New York joined the First 
Rifles and the, fotnehmeut of the Berdan -harp-shooters. 
Edwap.us 'Rattery had been left by Griffin in reserve, 
and late in the evening I tp.rned it over to Gen. Seymour 
to be put in position on the left. About nine o'clock P. 
Ii-., this wcl' contested action terminated by the with- 
drawal of the cne i y with very heavy loss. 

My attention was now directed to the cleaning of the 
arms and tho issuing of ammunition to be in readiness for 
the resumption of the combat in the morning. This con- 
sumed our time till one o'clock A. M., of the 27th. The 
troops had but little time ior rest, as before daybreak 
I received through you General McClellan's order to 
withdraw my Division and fall back to the rear of 
Gaines' Mills. 

'ibis order, I confess, gave me some concern. Had it 
reached me at midnight, the movement might have been 
accomplished without difficulty and without loss; but 
now it would be daylight betore the movement, which, 
under fire, is one of the most delicate and difficult in war 
particularly in presence of a greatly superior rorce" 
could be commenced. I, nevertheless, went to work 
witl out a moment's delay. Meade's Brigade was the 
first to be withdrawn, but before this was accomplished 
the enemy opened fire upon us. His fire was promptly 
returned, and soon became general along the line. Under 
these circumstances great caution and deliberation be- 
came necessary to screen the movement, and conse- 
quently tho troops had t.> be withdrawn slowly and at in- 
tervals. Meade's Brigade, however, retired in excellent 
order. Griffin's Biigade find Battery I then ordered to 
withdraw; this was done coohy and successfully. Rey- 
nolds' Brigade followed, during which movement a 
scatteing fire was kept up, and this was continued until 
all the artillery was brought out of action. Lastly, Sey- 
mour's Brigade was brought out. In fine, our killed had 
been buried, our wounded had been sent off by 7 o'clock 
A. M., o:i the 27th, and not a man, nor a gun, nor a mus- 
ket was left upon the field. Tho regiments filed past as 
steadily as if marching from the parade ground ; and it 
must have been some time before the enemy were aware 
that we were gone, as no attempt was made to follow us 
immediately. 

My loss in this battle, as near as I have been able to as- 
certain, was thirty-three killed, and one hundred and fifty 
wounded. 

The loss of tho enemy was heavy beyond precedent in 
this war, in proportion to the numbers engaged. The 
strength of my division on the field did not exceed seven 
thousand, including officers ; that of the enemy was some- 
where neat twenty thousand. Hill's Division alone was 
officially reported in the Richmond papers at fourteen 
thousand in this battle, and was admitted to have been 
reduced by casulties, after the battle ot New Market 
Cross Roads, to eiyht thousand. I learned from official 
authority, while a prisoner in Richmond, that General 
Lee's loss in killed and wounded at Mechanicsville, did 
not faU short of two thousand. In the official returns 
published, it was admitted that the First North Caiolina 
lost nearly one-half its effective force, and the Forty- 
fourth Georgia nearly two-thirds. "Stonewall" Jack- 
son's artillery was in the battle, with himself personally, 
although his infantry was several miles to the right of 
my position. 

Where all so gallantly supported the honor of the flag, 
it would appear invidious to particularize, but my thanks 
are particularly due to Generals Reynolds, Mead*, and 
Seymoir ; to Colonels Simmons and Taggart ; to Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel McCandless and Major Stone, aU of 
the Reserves, and who were all zealous and active, as 
well as gallant, in tho discharge of their arduous duties, 
throughout this well fought action. The officers of artil- 
lery especially distinguished themselves, E vston, De- 
IIart, Smead, Cooper and Kerns. General Meade 
is entitled to credit for his promptness and zeal in carry- 
ing out all instructions conveyed to him, though not 



directly engaged. It U with much pleasure I acknowl- 
edge my obligation in Briga G 'in, who 
promptly brought, iila fine brigade to m 

time v. i 

rul Mo: 

' .nee, and was ready to act, bad aid been re- 
Ca it il i Q. J 
a ssistant Ad u 

and Meconeley, Aids-dc-Camp, as w :i 
tonair Bea tv. Acting ().• I 

notice for their 
otber duties Incident to their offices. 

Report of the Part Taken by McCall'a Divi- 
sion (the Pennsyh ania Reserves), in the Baf- 
ile of-Gaines' lllills, on the '27tb Jnnc, 1S63. 

'awn from 

1 
enemy, on the mi . aoved steadily 

and in order to e I, in rear o 

Mills, whi re it arrived at 10 A. U 

I was notified by General Fobteb, that as my 
dfvision li :d been en 

ered from loss of sleep, and had been under fire 
for some hou-'s in the inoraiii: , it would be held in n serve 
to-day. 

■ different brigades of Porter's C »rps arrived on 
the groun Ith li the i 

ol the dens: woods bounding the extensive plain of 
clear 6 farm lands, strel fling so or fifteen hun- 

dred yards back to th oops con- 

stituted the first line, and mj the o icn 

the re ;r. The 
occupied Hi' space between the lines. The cavalry of 
my division, ih ■ Fourth Regime it Pennsylvania, I placed 
under cov r i f the sIod • In r< a •. 

At3 ! o clock P. M. the enemy advanced and opened his 
fire. V ' the action commenced, you ordered 

me to move forward the Second and Third Bri; 
my division to support the first line. This was imui di- 
ately done, and in a style that called forth an esprea ion 

.These 
two brigades were soon under fire i incesthe 

regiments going at once into line where intervals had 
been left, while in otm rs they halted dir 
the line already for. nod. In a Sho I time fti 
Fiist Brigade of my division al o was ordered forward, 
andsoou i e :am lengageel [nt the batteries 

of my division,! Coopee's on the right and DeHaei'S 
E aston 1 in the centre and on the left, were 

:>Uo a Ivanced an I slieiled th • enemy over the I i 
t e men in line. 

The action hal soon bccv.ne general, and the fire in 
front of my division, which was near the centre of the 
line of bait 

above which the artillery fire at tl 
distingnl hed. T i enemy was apparently drawn up in 
lour or and on" after another of them was 

thrust torward on my front as fa as the pi 
recoiled 1) fore the well directed fire of the Reserve . or 
at such short intervals tha* the thoroughly beated 
muskets of my men had not time ticool. In this way, 
for upwards of three hears, my brave fellows were under 
fire, the regiments either rclicvin ot or sonic 

i of another divisi >n whose men had become ox- 
hansted. About this time, sei ing some com notion on 
the left of my division, 1 rode rapidly to tb 
fonnd that the Fourth Re, iment had been drive i In and 
,;1 M.E \DE. 

ie, however, vi tnned. I rode In front, 

,i idressed i e mi d briefly, ml they soon resumed their 
phue in line of battle. 

thin nowont eleftofmydi Ision was in suc- 
cessful and satisfactory operation; 1, therefore, rode 
slowly along t i lor a short time in the con 

tre and th m proceeding to tb l right. Here I found Gen 
Reynolds coming from the woods With the I 
Eighth Regiments of hi- brigade, be having relieved them 
and brought them out of action, in conse [uence of their 
ammunition being exhausted, He eijortcJ to mc that 



Iment had likewise nearly expended all 
to berclieved. On hearing 
this] a int Adjutant-General, 

d the line an I, 

■ ; ion, I 
I I 
l now di battery in roar of mj 

l {ht into 
. to the spot an ! r 
it, to tlie officer in co ..maud. I 

niedand 
at once i to occupy the position. B 

i r of men 
. It soon became a] 
bad met with a reverse there. I ; out In the 
men and trove vigorously to rallj 
in liana cavalrv, I ba 
: the ; r ..in I, in line, n ith orde 

id to pas? their line. My endeavor 
■ 

that wcio in retreat and brought tliem into battery 

1 on the, oppo- 

• i le; I thus checked tl 

About ■ • Ith Meagher's 

id where I w as and I stopped 

the lire of the two batteries just brought into action 

m the hill in front. At tin foot oi 

the bill, however, th y were met byG neral KitzJoux 

Poster, wh ' baited the column oi our!: 

andtbcen?ni .. My division 

In good order and d 

Hill (in compliance with General Poster's order) 
I. On Trent's Hill the division lay 
upon their arms till morning. 

inly occurr nee of this day's battle that I have 
cause to regret (except the J i manv brave officers 
and me.!. sincerely mourn,) is the capture by 

the enemy of a 1 10I the li ventb Regiment 

amanding. This 

rej iment oi Meade's Brigade had, il -of the 

arternoon, o rth New Jers y i: 

Colonel Simpson (Major United Statt T i iograi hical En- 

. the latt r pi im sing t ■ - ip iorl the former ia 

case ot being hard pressed. In the heat of the action, 

th Eleventh Rogim ntb coming enveloped in the smoke 

of battle, continued the light alter the rest of the line had 

retired, hav.ng been closely engaged with a Rebel Re i- 

ment in front; and before the Colonel was aware th 1 he 

i left alone on the field, lie u under 

ivor ( iment-., one on either flan';, b s des the one 

in front. Notwithstanding the peril of his position, he 

ke it up a galling fire on the a Ivaucing foe as lie 

himself retired in good order on the Fourth New 

llcre, to crown his ill fortune, he found that he, as we'i 
son, was completely sureounded, a strong 
force having' already taken position in his immediate 
rear. The situation oi tl ese two br v r gim a 9, which 
had so nobly maintained their ground after all had re" 
.,,.■, i .i i ss; their retreatwas entirely cut 
oft by the Increasing lorce of iho enemy, who wcr.: still 
advancing', and they w^re compelled to surrender, '-o 
cen. ure can possibly attach to cither Colonel Galla- 
■ Colonel Simpson, or the brave men of their re- 
iccount ofthis ill turn offort me; 
br.t, on the contrary, they are entitled to the c : 
having held their groun I until it was tenable n i lon;cr. 
I have only i i tthisdav 

the Resen ■> the chara tor they had gained m 

the battle of Mi • the a ternoon of tb 

an I tli" morning ofthis day. 

My thanks are due to Brigadier-Generals Mea.de and 

Setmoi b tor the aid afforded me in this hard .oujit held. 

I reeret to have to report the capture ot Brigadier-Gene- 

1 
it Adjutant-General, Kings" 

bi RY.whowere ililc returning tothe 

, ,i the morning of tb 
To tiio officers ot my personal Staff, and parti sularly to 
Captain II. J. Uiddle, Assistant Adjutant-General, my 
Hani and efficient services. 
The loss f the division to-day was heavy'; it U em 
braced in the total at the toot ofthis report. 




aa. New Market Road. 
bb. Charles City Road. 

K Kearney's Division. 



NEW MARKET CROSS ROADS BATTLE GROUND. 

rc. Turkey Bridge (or Quaker Road). S. Sumner's Corps. 

M. MeCall's Division. H. Hooker's Division. 

LL Longstreef s and Hill's Divisions. 



Battle of New Market Cross Roads, June 30, 

186a. 

On Friday evening, June 2ith, after the battle of 
Gaines' Mills, my division crossed the Chickahominy to 
Trent's Hill, where it remained till eigrht o'clock P. M- 
on the 28th. At that hour I received your orders to move 
in the direction of White Oak creek, and to take with me 
Hunt's Reserve Artillery, consisiing of thirteen batte- 
ries. As this would extend my column many miles in 
length, and as my flank would constantly be exposed to 
attack, I placed the whole of the Third Brigade, by regi- 
ments, between the batteries, to afford them support- 
This movement, owing to narrow and bad roads, was ne" 
cessarily slow, and my division, after being all night on 
the ma' ch, did not reach the crossing of White Oak creek 
until near noon on the 29th. Having crossed the creek, I 
was ordered by the General-in-chief to put my division in 
position to repel any attack by the enemy from the direc- 
tion of Richmond. This I did, and I remained in position 
till five o'clock P. M. At that hour the march was re- 
sumed and continued by my command till I reached the 
Quaker road crossing of the New Market road, at mid, 
night. My oiders were to take a position here to repel 
an attack from Richmond. Havinp selected my position, 
and established the First and Second Brigales, and sent 
to the front a regiment of infantry and a battery, and a 
strong picket in advance of them, I kept the Third Bri- 
gade in reserve, and awaited the result till near daylight, 
when I was ordered to return. I marched backdeft in iront 
and reached the point where the Turkey-bridge road 
turns off Irom the New Market road, about seven o'clock 
A. M. on the 30th. Here I was ordered to halt till the 
whole of the immense supply trains of the. Army of the 
Potomac, then slowly advancing trom White Oak Creek, 
had passed towards James River, and to repel any attack 
that the enemy might make on it. At nine o'clock com- 
menced the heavy cannonade, caused by the enemy at- 
tempting to force the passage of the creek, and it con- 
tinued with little interruption till noon. 

It was a determined artillery duel, but as I did not ap- 
prehend their ability to effect a passage, I at once came 
to the conclusion that any attack on myself must come 
from the direction of Richmond, on my right flank. I 
had thrown out a cavalry picket in that direction, and on 
afterwards detecting indications of an advance of the 
enemy, moved out a regiment of infantry to strengthen 
the picket. 

Having examined the country around me, I made the 
disposition of my troops, facing to the right flank, as tol - 



lows :— Meade's Brigade on the right, Seymour's on the 
leit, and held Reynolds' Brigade, now command d by 
Colonel seneca G. Simmons, of the Fifth, in reserve. 
The artillery I established in front of the line, Randall's 
(regular; Eattcry on jthe right, Cooper and Kern's op- 
posite the centre, and two German batteries (accidentally 
with my division,) of four 20-pound Parrott guns each, 
commanded by Captains Dietrich and Kennerheim, on 
the left of the infantry line. 

The Fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry, Coloael 
Childs, was drawn up ontheleftand rear, but not being 
called into action, were subsequently ordered to fall back. 

The country on my new front was open, embracing a 
large farm, intersected towards the right by tha New 
Market road and a small strip of timber parallel to it; the 
open front was 800 yards, its depth at least 1000 yards. It 
was a beautiful battle-field, but too large for my force, the 
lands on either flank being open. My disposition having 
been made, I calmly awaited the approach of the enemy. 

About half-past two o'clock, P. M., my pickets, after 
s kirmisking were driven in by a strong advance, but with- 
out loss on our side. At three o'clock the enemy sent 
forward a regiment on my left centre, and immediately 
afterwards another on my right centre, to feel for a weak 
point. They were under cover of a shower of shell, and 
advanced boldly, but were both driven back, the former 
by the Third Eegiment,Col. Sickel, and the latter by the 
Seventh iiegiment, Col. Harvey. After this I rode for 
ward with the First Rifles, and placed them in a narrow 
skirt of timber, on the left and in front. Soon after this a 
very heavy column moved io the left of my iine,and threat- 
ened to take me in flank. I at once changed front on that 
flank, sending Col. Simmons with two regiments of the 
First Brigade to reinforce that quarter. This movement 
was promptly executed, but not a moment too soon, for 
a furious attack with artillery and infantry was almost 
immediately made on that flank. I at the same time di- 
rected Capt. Biddle, Assistant Adjutant-General, to ride 
to the left, and change the direction of fire of the two 
German Batteries from the front to the left. This order 
was gallantly executed, but it is with deep grief that I 
have to state that this brave and valuable officer fell here 
mortally wounded. 

For nearly two hours the battie raged fiercely, 
the enemy throwing in a perfect storm of shot and 
shell, and making several attempts to force my position 
Always checked by the steadiness of my brave Re- 
serves, he at last retired for a time, driven back by the 
well directed fire of musketry. During this attack the 
gallant and lamented Col. Simmons fell, also mortally 
wounded. 



Itmustnotbe imagined that the enemy was inactive 
along the conire ami right of my line doling all this time- 
Cooper's and Kekx's Batteries, in iront of the centre, 
were boldly charged upon, each time a regiment dashing 
up to within fifty or forty yards. They were then hurled 
back by a storm of cannister and the deliberate Bre 01 the 
First Regiment, Colonel Roberts, whom I had placed 
Immediately in rear of Kern's, and the Ninth Regiment, 
Col. Jackson, in rear of Cooper's. The contest was 
severe, and put the steadiness ot these regiments to the 
test; both suffered heavy loss, but particularly the First 
Regiment, whose gallant Lieutenant-Colonel fMolNTTRE), 
was severely wounded. 

Some time alter this, the most determined charge of the 
day was made upon Randall's Battery, byafull brigade, 
advancing in wedge shape, without order, but with a 
wild recklessness that 1 never saw equaled. Somewhat 
similar charges had, as I have stated, been previously 
made on Cooper's and on Kern's Batteries by single 
regiments without success, the Confederates having been 
driven back with heavy loss. A like result appears to 
have been anticipated by Randall's company; 
and the Fourth Regiment (as was subseqelitly re- 
ported to me), was requested not to advance be- 
tween the guns as I had ordered, as it inter- 
fered with the cRnnonieis, but to let the Battery 
deal with them. Its gallant commander did not doubt, 
I am satisfied, his ability to repel the attack, and his guns 
fairly opened lanes in the advancing host. These gaps 
were, however, immediately closed, and the enemy came 
on, with arms trailed, at a run, to the very muzzles of 
his guns, wnero t.ey pistoled or bayoneted the can- 
noniers. Two guns were limbered, and were in the act 
of wheeling to the rear when the horses were shot, the 
guns were both overturned, and presented one confused 
heap of men, horses and carriage I. Over all these tho 
men of the Eleventh Alabama Regiment dashed in, a 
perfect torrent of men, and 1 am sorry to say tho greater 
part of the Fourth Regiment gave way. The left com- 
pany (Captain Conrad) of that regiment, however, stood 
its ground, and with some fifty or eighty men of other 
companies met the Alabamians 

I had ridden into the regiment and endeavored to check 
them ; but, as is seen, with only partial success. It was 
here, however, my fortune to witness between those of 
my men who stood their ground and the Rebels who ad- 
vanced, one of the fiercest bayonet fights that perhaps 
ever occurred on this continent. Bayonets were crossed 
and locked in the struggle; bayonet wounds were freely 
given and received. I saw skulls crushed by the heavy 
blow of the butt of the musket, and, in short, the despe- 
rate thrusts and parries of a life and death encounter, 
proving indeed that Greek had met Greek when the Ala- 
bama boys fell upon the sons of Pennsylvania. 

My last reserve regiment I had previously sent to sup- 
port Cooper, and I had not now a man to bring forward. 
My men were bodily borne off the ground by superior 
numbers. A thick wood was immediately in rear, and 
the Confederates uid not follow my men into the thicket. 
It was at this moment, on witnessing the scene I have 
described that I bitterly felt that my division ought to 
have been reinforced. 

My force had been reduced, by the battles of the 26th 
and 27th, to le-s than six thousand, and on this occasion 
I had to contend with the divisions of Loncstreet and 
A. P. Hill, estimated among the strongest and best o t 
the Confederate army, and numbering that day from 
eighteen to twenty thousand. 

The centre was at this time still engaged and I could 
not withdraw any troops from it. 

The Alabama troops did not attempt to enfilade my 
line, and leaving the guns on the ground, (the horses hav- 
ing, during the fight, been either killed or dispersed) they 
retired to the woods on my right. 

It was now near sunset and the heat of battle had 
greatly subsided. I now rode to the rear to rally and 
collect the stragglers. At a short distance lean 
two regiments of Kearney's Division. I requested them 
to move forward, but was iuiormed their orders were to 



await the arrival of General Kearney. I moved od and 
set some officers at work to form the stragglers of my own 
regiments Into line. On my return I round General 
ftBABNBT. lie pui his regiments In motion and moved 
to the front and on the rifht of my line. 

As he rode away lie said to me, "If you can bring for- 
ward another line in a few minutes we can stop tbem." 
By this time tho sun had set, and the desultory tiring was 
confined to the extreme right. 

ina ahorttJme Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson, Third 
it, came np and reported to mo that he had col- 
1 cted aliont SI ii nan, with whom he was then advancing. 
I rode on I the head of the column in a direc- 

tion to i ri i thi three np on Kearney's left. 

On arriving near the ground where i: and all's Battery 
stood, I halted THOMPSON'S command, wishing to ascer- 
tain w aether any of my men were still in front of me. 
I had left Capt. Conrad's company about one hundred 
yards in advance, but it was now so dark I could scarcely 
distinguish a man at ten paces. The battle, in fact, was 
now over; the firing on the left and centre had ceased, 
and there was only a desultory firing between Ki: I 
men and the enemy, some distance to my right. I rode 
forward to look for Conrad, and on the ground where I 
left him I rude into the enemy's picket, tho Forty 
seventh Virginia, Colonel Mayo, resting under some 
trees, and before I knew in whoso presence I was, I was 
taken pi' fortunately for myself I had no staff 

officer with me, or I should have sent him forward to 
examine the ground, instead of ; o ■ but my 

Adjutant-General, the valiant Captain Henry J. Biddle 
had been mortally wounded; Lieut. Scheetz had his 
horse killed, and was injured by the fall; my Chief of 
Ordnance, the gallant BEATTT, had been severely 
wounded at my side, and only left me when 1 had insisted 
on bis doing so ; my excellent Orderly, Sergeant Simeon 
Dunn, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, was also fatally 
wounded at my side, and out of my escort of a captain 
and twenty men of the Fourth Cavalry, but one corporal 
(the brave King) and one private remained with mo; 
these two men were made prisoners with myself. About 
the time I was taken prisoner the desultory firing on my 
right died away. 

The conduct of the Pennsylvania Reserves on this hard 
fought field is worthy of all praise, as is fully attested by 
their stubborn resistance and their heavy loss in killed 
and wouuded. Besides the officers I have already named 
1 am greatly indebted to the gallant commander of tho 
Second Brigade, General George G. Meade, who ren- 
dered me efficient aid until his wounds compelle J him to 
leave the field. My thanks are likewise due to Colonel 
Roberts, commanding First Regiment; Col. Sickel, 
commanding Third Regiment ; Colonel Hays, command, 
ing Eighth Regiment; Colonel Jackson and Captain 
Cuthbertson, of Ninth Regiment, and other brave offi- 
cers not commanding regiments, of whom Lieutcnaut, 
Colonel McIntire and Major Wollworth are among the 
many wounded. I must also name as entitled to favor- 
able notice Acting Division Surgeon Stocker, who ac- 
companied me in the early part of the day and assisted in 
communicating my orders until slightly wound. -d in the 
wrist by the fragment of a shell. Indeed, to all are my 
best thanks and praises due for bravely contributing to 
the important result-, namely, the defense of the immense 
supply train while passing that point and the holding the 
enemy in check upon the New Market road, where he 
strove desperately to cut in two the retiring column of 
the Army of the I'otomac. 

The trophies of the day were three stands ot colors cap. 
tured and about two hundred prisoners. 

The loss oi the divi-ion In killed, wounded and prison 
ers in the three battles of the 2uth, ^7th and 30th of June 
was three thousand one hundred and eighty, the killed 
and wounded amounting to sixteen hundred and fifty, 
out of about seven thousand w bo went into battle at Me- 
chauicsville on the 26th of June. 

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant. 
GEORGE A. McOALL, 
Brig.-Uen. Com'g Division 







Testimony before the Joint Committee on 
the Conduct of the War. 

cenerat Ceorge A. McCall, sworn and examined by 
Mr. Covode: — 

Question.— It has been reported that on some one occa- 
sion during the peninsula campaign the Pennsylvania 
Keserves, under your command, were "routed." Will 
you please state whether or not such is the fact, and the 
particulars, if any, that gave rise to such report? 

Answei.— The only report in existence, I believe, to 
which your inquiry can refer, is the report of General 
Joseph Hooker, United States Volunteers, of the part 
taken by his division in the battle of June 30th, in front 
of Richmond called by him the "battle ot Glendale," j 
published in Wilkes' Spirit of the Times, of November 1, 
1862. In this roort that officer states "the whole of 
McCall's Division was completely routed'' &c. This | 
sweeping assertion was regarded by every officer and man 
of my division as exhibiting a misapprehension of facts 
that was perfectly incomprehensible, aud it caused me to j 
add to my official reoort of that battle (which I desig- 
nated "Newmarket Cross Roads") to Ceneral McClel- j 
LAN a supplemental report refuting this charge and ex- 
hibiting evidence to show that it was not in accordance 
with facts. 

Now, in order, sir, that your question may be compre- 
hensively answered, I must premise that of the several 
a:tacks made on the right flank of the Union army 
while retiring from the front of Richmond, upon 
James river, one of the most formidable was that 
commanded by General Robert E. Lee in person, on 
Monday, the 30th of June, 18G2, The Federal troops, 
more or less engaged in this battle, were Sumner's Corps, 
and McCall's, Kearney's and Hooker's Divisions- 
General McClellan was not present at this point, and 
the Corns and the Divisions here named manoeuvred and 
fought independently, except, that the several com- 
manders were instructed to maintain their positions, and 
protect the army trains tnen moving on towards James 
river. To " McCall's Division" was assigned, by order 
of the General-in-Chief (through General PoRTER),a posi- 
tion a short distance in front of the point where the line 
of march turned abruptly from the New Market road 
towards the river. I accordingly formed my divisions in 
two lines, crossing at right angles the New Market road, 
and in front of the Turkey bridge (or Quaker) road lead- 
ing to the river, and along which the trains were then 
moving Sumner's position was at some distance to the 
left of mine, and somewhat retired; Hooker was on 
Sumner's left, and slightiy advanced; Kearney was on 
the opposite side of the road, and consequently on my 
right ; there was more or less interval between each two. 
The Confederate forces advanced from Richmond down 
the New Market road, Lee's object being to cut, or break 
through, the Union army at this point. Had he succeeded 
in doing so lie could have seized and strongly occupied 
the only two approaches to James river, and then tfie 
left wing of our army (Heintzelman's and Franklin's 
Corps) would inevitably have been cut oft from McClel- 
lan, and the right wing would have been tauen in 
rear on its march. That this was Lee's object, as it was 
his expectation to accomplish it, is established by the de- 
claration of Gen. Longstreet "that i/McCall's division 
"had not fought as it did, they would have captured the 
Federal army " (See burgeon Marsh's testimony here- 
with.) And from the disposition of Lee's forces, it nece- 
sarily followed that the brunt of the attack would be on 
my position. It was so ; and to my division, which had 
been fighting and marching for four days and nights, 
without rest for a single night, it was, indeed, a desperate 
affair. My division, with the exception of an unimpor- 
tant reinforcement, had fought the battle of Mechanics- 
ville single handed, on the 26th, and had inflicted on Lee 
the only defeat the Conledcrates acknowledged thev sus- 
tained in front of Richmond; their own accounts admit- 
ting "they were repulsed at every point wtth unparalleled 
loss." On the 27th my division fought again at Gaines' 
Mills, and having lost heavily in the last battle, they 
were now reduced to about six thousand men. On the 
30th, at .Sew Marfeot Cross Roads, the attack was made 



on my division by Longstreet's and A. P. Hill's Divi- 
sions, crack troops, and about eighteen thousand strong. 
For some time my division alone v> as engaged ; several 
attempts having been made to find a weak point in my 
line. From tie nature of the ground I was ordered to 
occupy, both my flanks were unavoidably more or less 
exposed, and about five P. M. my left flank was threat- 
ened by a heavy body of the enemy. Having detected 
this at once, I ordered the Fifth and Eighth Regiments 
from my second line to support the left, and directed a 
change of front there of both infantry and artillery. This 
was promptly done, but not a moment too soon. The 
advance of the enemy under cover of a terrific artillery 
fire was gallantly met, and his line was broken and com- 
pletely routed, and over two hundred prisoners taken 
by the Fifth, Eighth and Tenth Regiments, commanded 
by Colonels FisnER and Hays, and Lieutenant-Colonel 
Warner, respectively. (See their reports herewith.) 

Immediately after this, a still heavieribody of the 
enemy advanced rapidly. My regiments had inecessarily 
become somewhat disordered by the very impetuosity of 
their charge, and were also weakened by tae detach- 
ments required to conduct their prisoners to the rear. 
Tlie enemy, greatly superior in numbers, was upon them 
before they had time to reform, and they in turn were 
compelled to retire, which they did, directly to the rear 
At the same time (by this advance of the enemy) the 
Twelfth Regiment, which had been divided and detached 
by General Seymour, of the Third Brigade, commanding 
the left wing of the Division, after it had been established 
in line by myself, was cut off from the rest of my line and 
driven to the left and rear. Simultaneously the cannon- 
iers of a section ofa battery belongingto Porter's Corps, 
and left that day with me, fled with their horses and 
limbers on the approach of the enemy, breaking through 
the four companies of the Twelfth, their support, and 
trampling the men. This confused mass, together with 
the other six companies of the Twelfth and the detach- 
ments of the Fifth, Eighth and Tenth, who, as before 
stated, were carrying prisoners to the rear, were hurried 
down a little bye-road between Sumner and Hooker, 
and in part, possibly upon the latter, closely followed by 
the enemy. The enemy, suddenly and unexpectedly 
coming on fresh troops, for Sumner and Hooker had 
not hitherto been engaged, soon recoiled, and were driven 
over upon my centre (not on Kearney, as stated by 
Hooker. See Col. Stone's report) Meantime, the Fifth, 
Eighth, Tenth and Rifles, who, as already remarked, had 
retired immediately in rear of their own ground and to the 
right of Sumner, were railed individually by their Colo- 
nels, and subsequently came forward under them, the Bri- 
gade Commander not being present. (Se^ reports of Col. 
Hays and others.) This teaaporary reverse of Seymour's 
brigade (one out of three brigades), you perceive, has been 
magnified int the complete rout of McCall's whole Divi- 
sion. But to show you, sir, what effect this reverse had 
on the division, I have it in evidence, by officers at that 
moment engaged in the centre of the division (see report 
of Lieutenant-Colonel McIntire and others, herewith), 
that it was not known or even heard of in their vicinitd 
I until the next day, or after the battle was over. I was 
I with the centre at the-time, and it was not known to me 
I at that time, nor at the time I returned to Harrison's 
Landing (from Richmond), where my official report of 
that battle was written; for, as already remarked, the 
enemy, repulsed by Sumner and Hooker, was thrown on 
my centre, whence they were finally repulsed by my Di- 
vision. 

I have stated that both my flanks were unavoidably 
more or less exposed ; that on the left I have already 
described. On the right, more than one hour later in the 
day, Randall's Battery was charged upon by the enemy 
in great force, and with a reckless impetuosity I never 
saw equaled; they advanced over a space of six hundred 
yards of open ground. The guns of the battery mowed 
them down at every discharge, yet they never paused. 
A volley of musketry was poured into them at short dis- 
tance, by the Fourth Regiment, in support of the battery, 
but it did not check them for an instant; they dashed on 
and bayoneted or pistoled the cannoniers at their guns. 
Part of the Fourth gave way; the remainder, however, 
with part of the Seventh in their rear (then coming 



forward.), stood their ground like heroes. I was with the 
battery at the time, and it was my fortune to wit- 
ness, in the bayonet fight that there took place, 
such a dispiay of reckless daring on the part of the Ala- 
bamians, and of unflinching courage on the part of the 
Pennsylvanians, as is rarely belield. My men were, how- 
ever, overpowered by numbers and borne off the ground. 
The battery was taken, but immediately abandoned by 
the enemy, who rapidly retired. These reverses on the 
flanks were the only serious discomfitures during the day. 
(See report of Assistant-AdjutantrGeneral Clarke, Cap- 
tain Ccthbeetson, Coldnel Roberts, Lieutenant Wat 
mough, A. D. C, and others, herewith). Just before sun- 
set, about 7 o'clock P. M., at least two hours alter 
Hooker reported my whole Division completely routed, 
Cooper's Battery, in front of the centre, was, after 
several charges had been repulsed, flnallv taken by the 
enemy, but only to be letaken by the Ninth Regiment, in 
a most glorious charge, (see. Captain Cutiibebtson'8 
report), wherein the standard of the Tenth Alabama was 
captured by private William J. Gallagheii, of company 
r, who killed the Rebel color bearer and seized the stand- 
ard, which he presented to me on the ground. 

I have no desire to treat lightly ihe reverses on both 
flanks of my Division in this hard fought field; they 
were the almost inevitable results of greatly superior 
numbers, impelled on those points with great, impetuosi- 
ty; but the Pennsylvania Reserves, as a Division, al- 
though terribly shattered, were never " routed;" they 
maintained their ground, with these exceptions, for three 
hours against thrice their numbers, in, I believe, the 
hardest fought and bloodiest battle in which they ever 
have been engaged, and m this opinion I am sustained by 
most of those officers, if not all, with whom I have con- 
versed on the subject. 

Had my division been routed, the march of the Federa. 
army would certainly have been seriously interrupted by 
Lee forcing his masses into the interval— see General 
Porter's statement herewith. When I was surrounded 
and taken prisoner, I was conducted at once to Lee's 
head-quarters. Here Longstreet told me they had se- 
venty thousand men bearing on that point, all of whom 
would arrive before midnight; and had he succeeded in 
forcing McClellan's column of inarch, they would have 
been thrust in between the right and left wings of the 
Federal army. Now, under this very probable contin- 
gency, AarZ lnot held my position (see General Porter's 
report herewith) the state of affairs in the left wing of Mc 



Clellan's army would have been critical Indeed; but 
Lee teas checked (as Longstreet admitted) by my divi- 
sion (see Surgeon Marsh's report herewith), and the di- 
visions in the rear, together with the Pennsylvania Re- 
serves and others, moved on during the night, and joined 
McClellan at Malvern Hill before daylight What 
share my division had in effecting this happy result let 
the country judge. 

Individually, I labored under great disadvantages In 
this battle, having sooner or later In the day lost all my 
Brigade Commanders, Colonel Simmons, commanding 
First Brigade (since the capture of General Reynolds, on 
the 27tli>, having been mortally wounded earlv In the 
day; General Meade, commanding Second Brigade, 
wounded and compelled to retire, and General Setmoub 
commnnding Ihlrd Brigade, bavin; 1 disappeared (see Col 
BATS' report). In addition to all this, in the course of 
the day all my staff were killed, wounded, or put 
hors du combat; my faithful Orderly was mortally 
wounded at my side, and my peisonal escort, a Captain 
and twenty men of Fourth Cavalry, killed, wounded or 
dispersed— two only excepted— having been myself almost 
all day under the hottest fire I ever experienced, encour- 
aging my men under all these disadvantages. 

The trophies I won this day were between two hundred 
and three hundred prisoners (see reports of Colonels 
Hays, Warner and Fisher), and three stands of colors. 
These colors are now (they were a short lime since) in the 
Adjutant-General's office, Washington, and are duly 
labeled with the names of the captors. 

I here insert, from a quantity of testimony in my pos- 
session, the following extracts from officers of rank :— 

First— "Washington, October 20, 1862. 

To General McCall— * * * "Had not McCall held 

his place on New Market road, June 30, that line of march 

of the (Federal) army would have been cut by the enemy. 

"[Signed] F. J. PORTER, 

"Maj.-Gen. Commanding Fifth Provisional Corps." 

"Second— Camp near Wakrenton, Va., Nov. 7, 1862. 

To General McCall— * * * " It was only the stub- 
born resistance offered by our division ( lhe Pennsylvania 
Reserves), prolonging the contest till after dark, and 
checking till that time the advance of the enemy, that 
enabled the concentration during the night of the whole 
army on James river, which saved it. 

"[Signed] GEORGE G. MEADE, Brig.-Gen. Vols." 



APPENDIX. 



Testimony of Officers of flic Pennsylvania Re- 
serves. 

Colonel Roy Stone, One-hundred-and-forty-ninth Penna 
Vols., late Major Commanding First Rifles, (Bucktails), 
to Gen. McCall. 

[Extract.] 
"Washington, Nov. 3, 1862. * * * At the battle of 
New market Gross-roads, June 30, 1862, my Jreviment was 
not actively engaged until after the brilliant and success- 
ful haige made by several regiments 01 the left wing. 
which resulted in driving back the enemy's advanced 
line and capturing a large number of prisoners.. These 
regiments, whose ranks were necessarily somewhat 
broken by the very impetuosity of their charge over 
broken ground and into timber, but especially by the de- 
tachments which were required to bring in their prison- 
ers, were ordered to re-form in front of the farm house 
and I was sent to the left to cover the formation. The 
enemy, however, gave our men no time to re-form, but 
pushed a solid column of overwhelming numbers out 01 
the woods on our left and front, compelling our nun In 



t urn to retreat. This advance of the enemy might have been 
checked by the Dutch battery belonging to Gen. Porter's 
Corps, and temporarily with your division that day ; but 
it was deserted by its gunners on the first appearance of 
the enemy. Some men on the extreme left of our ad- 
vanced line above referred to were cut off from their 
companions by the enemy's rapid advance, and were 
obliged to retreat to the left. These were probably the 
men who reached Hooker's first line. 

Meantime the enemy (recoiling from Scmner and 
Hooker) turned to the left and was repulsed by your 
centre. About sunset I was ordered to the light, and 
went directly to the ground occupied by me when the 
action commenced, and I can bear witness that the 
ground held by the centre of your division when the bat- 
tle opened, was held by your troops in the face of a 
large force of the enemy long after dark; and so far as 
my observation extended, the only regiments that broke 
in the early part of the fight were those that hadbecom 
disordered by their own charge into the enemy's line. 
ROY STONE, 
Colonel U9th P. V., late Major Com'g 1st Rifles. 



Colonel J. W. Fisher, commanding Fifth Regiment Penn- 
sylvania Reserves, to General Mc Call. 

Washington, February, 1863.— * * * At the battle 
of New Market Cross Roads, June 30, 1862, the Fifth Re- 
giment, under my command, was ordered to reinforce the 
Third brigade, General Setmour, on the left of the divi- 
sion, soon after the action commenced, and took position 
on the right of the Eighth Regiment. In the charge 
upon the advancing enemy we captured one hundred 
and two prisoners, and sent them to the rear. If these 
regiments had been permitted to retire with their prison- 
ers, instead of bein? ordered by General Seymour to 
form under the file of another body of the enemy then 
advancing, they would not have broken, but would have 
formed in time to receive the enemy. 

J,"W. FISHER, 
Col. Com'g 5th Regiment. 

Colonel G. S. Hats, Commanding Eighth Regiment Penn- 
sylvania Reserves, to GeneralMcCxLh. 

[Extract.] 

" Washington, Feb. 10, 1862.—* * At the battle of 
New Market Cross Roads, J une 30, 1862, my regiment was 
ordered to support the Third Brigade , General Seymour. 
We soon encountered the enemy, but having tbiee times 
our number to contend with, we fell back to the woods; 
as it was, we took eighty-tour prisoners. Some of these, 
however, got away, owing to the great fatigue of our 
men. Afterwards I went back, with the intention of re- 
covering the body of Colonel Simmons, commanding our 
brigade (the 1st 1 . In crossing a ravine, my horse was 
struck with a shell. Having reached my colors on foot, 
I ordered one of my men to find General Seymour, as I 
wished to be relieved on account of injuries received 
by the fall of the horse upon me. This he reported at a 
late hour he could not do, and the report at that time was 
that you were killed. Not being able to find General Sey- 
mour, commanding Brigade, I ordered the line to advance 
and take a position in a field immediately in front of 
where General Seymour had been In the commencement 
of the action. We lay there till four o'clocK the next 
morning, and so near the enemy that we could hear the 
voices of officers giving orders. We were exceedingly 
unfortunate in losing our Acting Brigadier, Colonel Sim- 
mons. He would have been of great service to you. 
GEO. S. HATS, 
"Col. Com'g Eighth Reg't Penna. Reserves. 

Lieutenant- Colonel A. J. Warner, Commanding Tenth 
Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves, to General McCall. 

[Extract.] 

" Georgetown (Hospital), Jan. 15, 1863.—* * At 
New Market Cross Roads, June 30, 1862, the regiment 
kept its position on the left (Seymour's Brigade), where 
jt was stationed by yourself during the artillery con- 
test that preceded tne infantry attack. When the 
enemy made his first advance across the open 
field in our front, the Tenth Regiment, with 
others of the Reserves charged upon them, utterlv de- 
stroying their lines and scattering them in every direc- 
tion. The regiment took over a hundred prisoners in this 
charge. The regiment was again ordered in line by Gen- 
eral Seymour, and sustained a most severe shock in the 
second attack of the enemy, suffering severely in killed 
and wounded. Upon being flunked and marly sur- 
rounded by the Rebels, the rogiment fell back, skirmish- 
ing through the woods tat our rear. The enemy being 
checked in these woods, the regiment again formed in 
line, with others of the Reserves who were rallied at this 
point, and moved forward to within a hundred yards of 
the ground it held at the beginning of the battle. Here 
It remained in line of battle till 11 o'clock at night, when 
It was ordered to move to Malvern Hill." 

A. J. WARNER, 
Lieutenant-Colonel Com.'g Tenth Reg.'t I'a. Reserves. 



Colonel John H. Taggart, Commanding Twelfth Re - 
ment Pennsylvania Reserves, to General McCall. 

[Extract] 

" Washington, Nov. 8th, 1862.—* * * My regiment, 
on the 30th June, at New Market Cross Roads, was as- 
signed a position by yourself on the left of your division. 
Shortly afterwards General Seymour made a charge, 
posting six companies in a breastwork of logs hastily 
constructed, and four companies as a support to two 
20-pounder guns of the Dutch Battery. At 5 P. M. a 
sudden and vigorous attack was made on my left and 
front. * * * My men opened fire on the advancing 
foe, out the charge was so irnpetuou? that after a short 
hand-to-hand struggle, in which many men were killed 
and wounded, the six companies under my command 
fell back to the left and rear. Afterwards a new line 
was formed, and a large number of men fought side 
by side with a Massachusetts Regiment, belonging, 
as I understood, to General Hooker's Division. 
At the time my regiment was torced in, a number 
of our men, perhaps one hundred and fifty or two hun- 
dred, passed down the road between Sumner's and Hook- 
er's lin es. These men werj carrying off a number of 
prisoners taken by them in front. 

JOHN H. TAGGART, 
Late Colonel Twelfth Regt. Pa. Reserves." 

"Having been present with the Twelfth Regiment on 
the 30th June, 1862, when diiven in, my Company joined 
a reyiment of General Hooker's Division, and was ac- 
tively engaged; and there, indeed, one-fourth of my men 
were either killed or wounded. 

CHILL HAZZARD, 
First Lieut. Twelfth Regt., Commanding Company." 

Lieutenant and Adjutant Theodore McMurtrie, Twelfth 
Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves, to General McCall. 

[Extract.] 

Washington, Nov. 13, 1862.— "On the day of New Mar- 
ket Cross Roads, June 30th, our regiment (Twelfth) was 
with the remainder of the Division, ordered into line of 
battle under your personal supervision. After you had 
moved to the right of the Division, Brigadier-General 
Seymour made other disposition of the regiment, where by 
six companies were detailed to go to the left and front of 
the original line of battle, behind a barricade of rails 
After sustaining the enemy's fire for some time, these 
companies gave way and retired by a left flank move- 
ment to the rear, under charge of Colonel John H. Tag- 
gart, commanding. The companies left with me bein;.; 
unsupported and in danger of being flanked by the 
enemy, who opened a heavy fire on our left, enfilading 
us, they broke and retreated directly to the rear, where 
many of them rallied in the new line there formed 
through the gallant exertions of Major Stone, First 
Rifles, and other officers, who, with myself, did their ut- 
most to rally the men, and succeeded. No part of the 
meu composing the four companies left with me broke 
through any of the Divisions on the left of our own line 
of battle, but rallied a;.ain directly in the rear. 

THEODORE McMUETRIE, 
Lieutenant and Adjutant Twelfth Pa. Reserves." 

Lieutenant-Colonel H. M. McIntire, First Regiment 
Pennsylvania Reserves, to General McCall. 

[Extract]. 

"Washington, Jan. 3, 1863.— In the battle of New Mar- 
ket Cross Roads, the regiment to which I belong occu- 
pied a central position in the division, and at sun-set (7*15 
P. M.), at which time I was wounded and left the field 
the regiment still held the ground they had from the first, 



J inew nothirg of the left being driven back, nor was it 
known in our vicinity. HENBYM. M< INTIRE, 

"Lieut-Col. First Regt. Pa. Reserves." 

Captain John Cr/THBERTSON, Ninth Regiment Pennsyl- 
• i Reserves, to General McC all. 

[Extract]. 

"Washington, Nov. 4, 1862.— General :— In answer to 
questions by yon relative to the conduct of the Ninth Regi- 
ment at the battle of New Market Cross Roads, June 30th, 
I would respectfully reply, this regiment at commence- 
ment of action was placed in support of Coopbb'8 Bat- 
tery. The enemy consumed a couple of hours in a num- 
ber of ineffectual attempts to take this battery, several 
times charging up within a few yards of the guns, but 
each time driven back with slaughter. About six o'clock 
this regiment was ordered to the left, the enemy ap- 
parently making headway in that direction, and moved 
to the position assigned, leaving other troops to support 
the battery. When the enemy on the left was repulsed, 
we v>ere moved ft> the rear of the battery which had just 
been taken bv the enemy. Th(> regiment was ordered to 
retake the battery, and the men advanced, cheering 
lustily, to the attack, although it was in possession of a 
superior force, and the enemy defended it with groat 
vigor. A hand to hand struggle ensued, muskets were 
clubbed and bayonets were used, the enemy were driven 
from the guns, fleeing in great confusion, our men after 
them, to the road leading to Richmond. Here our men 
were with difficulty halted, I having to catch hold of the 
color-bearer to stop him. The regiment then fell hack. 
Soon after a body of the enemy, several times our num. 
ber, came up and were at once engaged, our men behav- 
ing with a valor and heroism that could not be surpassed. 
Although not over fifty yards separated us, and officers 
nnd men lell rapidly under the terrible fire, not a man 
faltered. In a few minutes a musket ball passed through 
both my thighs ; it was then nearly dark, and as I was 
carried off I could see my gallant comrades were still 
maintaining the unequal contest with a recUessni sss <>t 
life that astonishes me now, when I calmly reflect on it. 
As nearly as I can estimate it was near eight o'clock when 

I was wounded. 
I was the senior Captain, temporarily in command of 

the regiment at the time. 27ms regiment, during the bai- 
tle,was not at any lime in the rear of the line of battle ' 
adopted by you. JOHN CTJTHBERTSON, 

Senior Captain Ninth Regiment Penn'a Reserves. 

Colonel R. Biddle Roberts, Commanding First Regi 
ment Pennsylvania Reserves, to General McCall. 

[Extract.] 
"Harrisbirg, Nov. 7, 1862.— My regiment held a po- 
sition near the centre of your line, in the battle of New 
Market Cross Roads, June 30th. You will remember 
that, soon after the battle commenced, I received a per- 
sonal order from you to advance the regiment to the sup- 
port of Keen's Battery, which was at once done. From 
this position I had a view of portions of the three bri- 
gades of your division. We received three distinct 
charges from the enemv, which were repulsed success- 
fully. We suffered severely, but fought to the close of 
the day, when we were relieved by fresh troops. 

R. BIDDLE ROBERTS, 
Late Colonel First Rrsiment Penna. Reserves. 

Colonel H. C. Bolinger, Commanding Seventh Regiment 
Pennsylvania Reserves, to General McCa l. 

[Extract.] 

"Washington, Dec. 23, 1862.— At the battle of New 
Market Cross Roads, Juno 30th", the Seventh Regiment 
was stationed on the right of the line of battle, in rear of 
he Fourth Regiment and a battery (Randall's) of ar- 



tillery, my advanced on the bat 

tcry they V ro received bv a volley ot mu ketry from the 
Fourth Regiment, at very short range, but it did not 
stop t: upon the guns. The battc-y kept up 

an Incessant Ore, a lath ir r.uiks at every 

Ore, yet they pressed steadily forward, and when they 
camo up to the guns it became a hand to hand tight, men 
freely aslng their bayonets and '-muskets. 

At this time my hone fell, and when I went down ale 
made for inc with drawn sword, but was met by one of 
ley men with bayo md ion the spot. We were 

overpowered and driven from the guns. We rallied and 
once more recovered the pieces of artillery, after one of 
them had been turned upon us and Its contents fired Into 
our ranks. After wards myself, and snob menus I could 
muster, charged aoi me field to the front of 

where we first em as the sun 

was setting, and when we left the field It was so dark that 
we could not distinguish fiieud from foe " 

II. C. BOLINGER, 
Colonel Comd'g Seventh Rcg't Pa. Reserves. 

Captain James C. Clark, Assistant Adjutant- General, 
Setmolr's Brigade, to General McCall. 

[Extract.] 
"Washington. Nov. 1, 1S6J.— The attack in the early 
part of the engagement (New Market Cross Roads, June 
30), on the left, was in force and impetuous, not to be 
withstood. Sonic of the regiments gave way. Had the 
division been rooted the fight could not have been con- 
tinued as it was, and the field have been held until sun- 
down by you. I came to you, as you remember, about 
seven o'clock In the evening, and asked if you had seen 
General Seymour recently. I noticed that you were 
nearly alone and 1 offered my services. As this was at a 
late hour, and you were then directing the fight, the Divi- 
sion could uot have been rented. The large number of 
prisoners brought in by the Reserves and sent to the rear 
is another evidence that the ground was well contested 
JAMES C CLARK Ass't Adj't-Gen. Third Brigade." 

Lieutenant and Aid-de-Cami> AVilliam W. Watmocgh 
General Meade's Staff. 

[Extract.] 
"Washington, Nov. 9, 1862.- * * * I was forced to 
leave the field (New Market Cross Roads. June 30) about 
half-pa=t seven P.M. ,by reason of a wound.and at that time 
everything, I thought, was going on finely. The Division 
was in possession of the position you first assigned it at 
the opening of the engagement. I think our conduct on 
that occasion is well testified by the presence in the Adju- 
tant-General's Office, Washington, of three Rebel flags, 
that were taken during the i ngagement by our Division. 
W. W. WATMOUGH A. D. C, <tc. 

Surgeon N. F. Marsh, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, 
McCall's Division, to Gen. McCall. 

Washington, November 'i5. 1862.— General :— After the 
battle of 30th June, I remained at ''Willis' Church," with 
a large number of our wounded. The next morning I was 
directed by G"n. Jackson (Stonewall) to report to Gen. 
Lee. I found Gen. Lee In company with Generals Long- 
BTRBET, M.u.ei dkr and Hill, on the New Market road. 
I addressed Gen. Lee, and Informed him that I was a Fe- 
deral Surg.^omand had remained to care for our wounded, 
and wished protection and supplies lor our men. He pro- 
mised supplies, and directed Gen. Longstkf.f.t to write 
the necessary permit. At the time I approached they 
were discussing the battle of the previous day, being then 
on the ground. Gen. LohGSTBEKT asked me if I was pre 
sent. I replied I was. He asked what troops were en- 
paged. I replied I only knew the Division I was con- 
nected with— McCall's- which fought just where we 

I 



10 



then were. Gen. Longstreet said, "Well, McCall is 
safe in Richmond; bat if his Division had not offered tlie 
stubborn resistance it did on this road, we would have 
captured your whole army. Never mind, we'll do it yet." 

On Thursday, 3d July, General Roger A. Pryor came 
into the Church (hospital), and we had a long conversa- 
tion. He repeated in substance what Gen. Longstreet 
Baid, and spoko in the highest terms of the "pluck dis- 
played by McCall's Pennsylvania troops." 

The interest I ielt in the Re^erre Co ps made ma care, 
ful to remember these acknowledgments of the Rebel 
Generals. 

I have the honor to be your ob't serv't, 

N. F. MARSH, 
Surgeon Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry. 

Surgeon James R Riley (now of) the One-hundred-and- 
twenty-seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunie.rs, to- 
General McCail. 

Washington, Jan. 16, 1863.— Geueral :-On the 18th of 
Decen.bcr, 1^62, 1 was engaged dressing' the stump, hav- 
ing previously amputated the leg cf Capt. (name 

not recollected), of the Twelfth Mississippi Regiment, 
who had been wound d at the battle of Fredericksburg, 
when he asked me what Corps I belonged to. I replied 
the Pennsylvania Reserves. Ho paid he had been in 
seventeen battles, and in all those on the Peninsula; that 
if the Pennsylvania Reserves had not fought so well at 
Mechanicsville, where they had their best troops, and 
again at New Market Cross Roads, the Confederates 
would have captured McC cellar's army. 

JAMES R. RILEY, 
Surgeon One hundred-and-twentyseventh Pennsylvania 

Volunteers, late Pennsylvania Reserves. 

Colonel Everard Bierer, One-hundred-and-seventy-first 
Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, to Gen. McC all. 

[Extract.] 

Washington, Dec. 6, 1862. — General :— About the mid- 
dle of July last, while I was a Captain of the Eleventh 
Pennsylvania Reserves, and a prisoner in Richmond, I 
Mas called on by David M. Whalet, Major of the Fifth 
Texas Regiment. He was born and raised in Fayette 
county, Pennsylvania, where I reside. We were compa- 
nions in boyhood, and schoolmates He was also known 
to Major Johns, of my regiment, then present. About 
eleven years ago he went to Texas. He told me he had 
been in the hattles in front of Richmond, and that he 
never siw better fighting than that of the Pennsylvania 
Pe;erves. He stated that at the battle of Mechanicsville i 
the Confederates were repulsed at every point, and thac 
their loss was very heavy, about two thousand killed 
and wounded. He was astonished when I told him our 
loss was only about two hundred. Though in the Rebel 
service, Major Whalet is a gentleman of high integrity, 
and perfectly reliable, as I believe. 

EVERARD BIERER, 
Col. One-hundrjd-and-scventy-first Pennsylvania Militia. 



Statement of Officers of tlie Reserve Corps. 

We, the undersigned officers of the Pennsylvania Re- 
serves (McCall's Division), who fought in tlie battle of 
the 30th of J one, lS6i, variously called the battle oj Nel- 
son's Farm, Glcndale and New Market Cross roads, do 



heicby distinctly state that our Division was not routed 
in that battle; and that, although a temporary reverse 
was sustained by Seymour's Brigade early in the day , 
the Division was at no time completely routed. 

GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General. 

R. BIDDLE ROBERTS, Colonel Commanding First 
Regiment. 

WM. McCANDLESS, Colonel Commanding Second 
Regiment. 

H. G. SICKEL, Colonel Commanding Third Regiment. 

A. L. MAGILTON, Colonel Commanding Fourth Regi- 
ment. 

J. W. FISHER, Colonel Commanding Fifth Regiment. 

(The Sixth Regiment was not in the battle.) 

H. C. BOEING i-R, Colonel Commanding Seventh Re- 
giment. - 

GEO. S. HAYS, Colonel Commanding Eighth Regi- 
ment. 

JOHN CCTHBEP/T30N, Captain ie command (pro. 
tem.) Ninth Regiment. 

A. J. WARNER, Lt. Col. Com'g 10th Reg. 

(Eleventh Regiment not engaged in the battle.) 

JOHNH.TAGGART,Colonel Commanding Twelfth Re- 
giment. 

ROY STONE, Major Commanding Rifle Regiment. 

E. 0. BAIRD, Captain and As istant Adjutant-General 
Meade's Brigade. 

J. C. CLARK, '"aptain and Assistant Adjutant-General, 
Setmoi'r's Brigade. 

ROBERT ANDERSON, Lieutenant-Colonel Ninth Re- 
giment. 

PETER BALDY, Lieutenant-Colonel Twelfth Regi- 
ment. 

J. McK. SNODGRASS, Major, now commanding Ninth 
Regiment. 

IRA AYER, Acting Major Tenth Regiment. 

1. G. HENRY, Captain Eighch Regiment. 

D. S. TORTER, Captain First Regiment. 

WM. COOPER TALLEY, Captain First Regiment. 

THOMAS F. B. TAPPER, Captain Fourth Regiment. 

I. LENHART, Captain Third Regiment. 

L. B. SPENCE, Captain Seventh Regiment. 

WILLIAM BROOK, Captain Eighth Regiment. 

A. G. OLIVER, Captain Twelfth Regiment. 

JAMES H. LARRIMER, Captain Fifth Regiment. 

ALFRED M. SMITH, Captain Fifth Regiment. 

C. BARNES, Captain Ninth Regiment. 

HARTLEY HOWARD, Captain Ninth Regiment. 

JNO. fl. BALLENIYNE, Captain Ninth Regiment. 

HENRY GEHREN, Captain Ninth Regiment. 

n. C. DAWSON, Captain Eighth Regiment. 

WILLIAM LEMON, Captain Eighth Regiment. 

N. O. D. ADAIE, Captain and C. S. 

F. P. ARMSDEN, Captain Artillery, Commanding 
Battery G. 

JAMES A. McPHERSON, Captain Fifth Regiment. 
RICHARD ELLIS, Captain Second Regiment. 

And many others. 



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